Read our full review of the iPad Mini.
The tablet is an incredibly versatile device, but we all use it. If you, like me, use your iPad for reading, you have to choose the iPad Mini. Other models like the iPad Air start at around 11 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your book.
But the iPad Mini isn’t just a glorified e-reader, it’s still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows—a level of flexibility that the Kindle can’t match.
So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you’re looking for a tablet that can also function as a laptop, this might not be the one for you. Eight inches may be plenty of space for reading or viewing, but it’ll seem small when you want to flip between email and Slack. As Mashable’s Stan Schroeder noted in his review, the iPad mini 7th generation didn’t stand a chance when compared to the M1 MacBook Pro. Also, it’s not compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch.
The iPad mini got a 2024 upgrade, and is now equipped with the A17 chip but with the same 5-core GPU and 6-core CPU. The chip upgrade also comes with Apple Intelligence, which is a particularly helpful feature if you plan to use it for reading as it can summarize articles.
It is more advanced than the iPad 11th generation in some ways. But on the other hand, it is missing key features like landscape view camera and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When we calculate all this, it’s clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple’s line-up are capable of being great tablets. And Laptop.
Most of all, I love the iPad Mini for reading. Previously, I used to read with my iPad 9th generation, which works fine but is too big. When I’m reading in bed, the standard-sized iPad feels like a drag on my wrists. So when I started using the iPad mini, I was pleased with its light weight; It weighs a little more than half a pound. At 8.3 inches it’s about an inch and a half larger than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but using both, the hand feel is negligible.
Also, unlike the iPad 11th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help with reading in any lighting. The iPad Mini is great for reading, but it doesn’t have the matte screen of other e-readers, which causes some eye strain at night. If you want to give your iPad Mini the Kindle treatment, these paperlike screen protectors add some nice friction to the screen to make it feel like you’re reading and writing on paper.
The iPad Mini’s smaller size also makes it a better choice for travel. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. Despite being smaller than the iPad 11th generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? A little more advanced technology, convenience of portability and a better reading experience.